Margaret Graham Hills, who has died aged 97, spent 73 years teaching ballet, initially at the Royal Ballet School in London and later at studios in Los Angeles. She was fearless, funny, and kind, with a phenomenal memory for choreography.
Early life and career
Born in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, Margaret was the daughter of Ida (nee Cockshott), an amateur painter, and Ellis Hampson, an executive for the Co-op. Her brother John Graham was nine years younger, and she later adopted his middle name as her stage surname.
She began dance classes at three. After leaving the Priory School, Shrewsbury, at 15, she joined Sadler's Wells Ballet and moved to London. During World War II, she danced for the forces at nearby bases.
Teaching career
A knee injury at 17 ended her dancing dreams. Ninette de Valois hired her as an assistant and teacher at the Royal Ballet School. Among her students were Antoinette Sibley, Anthony Dowell, and Georgina Parkinson.
In 1950, de Valois sent Margaret to Ankara for a year to help found Turkey's national ballet company. She learned Turkish to teach the dancers.
In the late 1940s, she met industrial designer Brian Hills at a friend's home. They married in 1951 and lived in London and Kent. She helped write the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus, became expert in ballet pantomime, and was appointed senior ballet mistress of the Royal Ballet School at 27.
Move to the United States
Margaret and Brian moved to the US in 1971 when Brian joined Mattel Toys. They intended to stay a year but never left. Margaret taught at Stanley Holden's Dance Center (1972-97), UCLA (1984-93), and Westside Ballet (2000-18). She retired at 90 and became an honorary fellow of the RAD in 2024.
Brian died in 2020. Margaret is survived by her children Sarah, Julian, and the author; grandchildren Emily, Nicholas, Grey, Simone, Fiona, and Sebastian; and great-grandchildren Vivian, Zoe, and James.
